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June 25, 2012

Veterinarians from South Africa and Russia are in Peru working with the CARES team to sterilize street animals. The trip began on June 19 and will conclude on July 2.

Harri of Amazon CARES captures a street
dog as part of our TNR Campaign

Despite a publicized and signed contract with the Punchana municipality, on the third day of our public and animal health campaign, officials were no-shows! As our volunteers waited for transportation to Punchana, and our Peru Director Bruno Antoine called various authorities with no response, we reached the conclusion that officials had decided that a vacation day took priority over public health.

June 19, 2012

Taking Care of Domestic Animals in Foreign Countries

Here in the United States there is, unfortunately, a certain amount of animal abuse. There is, without a doubt, room for improvement in the way we treat our livestock. Feral cats are often blamed (undeservedly for the most part) for spreading diseases, everything from toxoplasmosis to plaque to rabies, resulting in the targeting and eradication of entire colonies. Pit bull breeds are frequently villainized and sometimes victimized as well. However, for the most part, we see our domestic animals as pets and treat them as such. In other countries, however, this is not always the case.

June 15, 2012

Amazon CARES’ no kill shelter was engulfed by 6′ of torrential rain, the worst seen in Peru in 25 years. Molly Mednikow, Founder and Executive Director of the lone organization working in the region to protect and assist domestic animals, said her heart sank as she watched the waters quickly rise to cover the spacious kennels that took so long to build. Molly imagined seven years of the difficult work of social change being swept into the Amazon. That was a moment. It is never more clear what stuff you are made of than when disaster erupts.

For those who don’t know Molly or Amazon CARES beyond the no kill status and rainforest location, we talked briefly about what drove her to make such a drastic change in her life. She moved away from a successful Atlanta business to live in Peru and change people’s minds about street dogs. She opened a modern veterinary clinic in Iquitos to perform free spay/neuter to help stem teaming populations from overrunning the streets.

Relating details about Amazon CARES Humane Education program, Molly offered that volunteers are in the schools in town and surrounding villages every day teaching how to care for, respect and have compassion for animals. You take note of what she is saying not only because of the value of the programs, but because of the passion in her voice and the persistence of her actions.

June 7, 2012

Translation: "Not a week goes by that we don't post on Facebook new examples of bad behavior, or instances of irresponsible cruelty to animals. Once again we had the sad surprise to find an animal lying at the curb of our clinic. The owner, or the person who picked it up, (depending on one's version), Miguel, a 4X4 truck driving businessman, did not bother to ring the doorbell, talk to the vet to see what ailed the dog or seek a solution. No, instead he waited until our clinic had closed to leave the animal at the door. Nice, right?"

Bruno Antoine, Director of Amazon Cares Peru obtained Miguel's phone number and tried to speak with him, in vain. In a move that would surely cause a lawsuit in the USA, Bruno actually posted Miguel's phone number on the Spanish Facebook Page! He told others that he had no success talking to Miguel, but if others wanted to let the man know that they found his conduct bad, they should not hesitate to call him!

Sadly, this abandoned dog has a severe spinal injury. We are not optimistic about his prognosis. We continue our Humane Education programs to teach responsibility towards pets. Sadly, it is the adults that are the hardest to reach.